“Trump claims that De la Espriella will be a “great president” and predicts a better relationship with Colombia”

Washington. – The President of the United States, Donald Trump, stated this Monday that the president-elect of Colombia, Abelardo de la Espriella, will be a “great president” and assured that relations between both countries will be “much better” than during the administration of the outgoing leader, Gustavo Petro.

The statements were offered to journalists in Washington, one day after the Colombian presidential elections, in which De la Espriella obtained the victory according to the preliminary results of the count.

“He will be a great president. The relationship with Colombia will be much better”, Trump expressed when referring to the Colombian leader, whom he had publicly supported during the electoral campaign.

The U.S. president also expressed his interest in strengthening bilateral ties between Washington and Bogota, highlighting the possibility of building a solid relationship with the new Colombian government.

We recommend reading: Iván Cepeda makes an urgent call for calm and serenity after tight election results

Trump had already expressed his support for De la Espriella during the presidential campaign, granting him his “complete and total endorsement” before the runoff election. The now Colombian president-elect thanked him for that support and noted on several occasions that he considers the United States a fundamental ally in the fight against drug trafficking and organized crime.

De la Espriella’s victory represents a significant political shift in Colombia. The lawyer and conservative leader prevailed by a narrow margin over leftist senator Iván Cepeda, in one of the closest electoral contests in the country’s recent history.

According to preliminary results, the leader obtained nearly 49.6% of the votes, surpassing his rival by less than one percentage point. However, opposition sectors have requested the review of thousands of polling stations and have filed complaints regarding the counting process.

De la Espriella, a 47-year-old lawyer and founder of the Defensores de la Patria movement, has built his political discourse around proposals for a hardline stance against crime, reducing the size of the State, strengthening security, and economic recovery.

The president-elect has also expressed favorable positions toward a closer relationship with the United States and has voiced admiration for political figures such as Donald Trump and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele.

The inauguration of the new Colombian leader is scheduled for next August 7, the date on which he will officially assume the Presidency of Colombia for the 2026-2030 term.